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Responsible for What You Know

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” James 3:1 NIVIt was the middle of the night. The only ones to respond to the sudden death in x-ray at the hospital was a medical student, a doctor and a young cardiac nurse. Together they did what they could to bring the man back to life. Then the doctor, a pathologist more accustomed to bodies in the morgue, misunderstood the heart line on the monitor and ordered an injection of a drug the young nurse knew would be fatal.

What to do? How dare she contradict the far more educated doctor? And yet, the state law said that she is responsible for what she knows. If a doctor orders something that the nurse knows is wrong, if she follows orders and the patient dies, she is responsible.

She not only refused to give the injection but when the doctor angrily prepared the syringe to give it himself, she grabbed hold of his arm to stop him, refusing to let go regardless of the struggle. In anger the doctor walked out of the room promising to fire her in the morning. The patient lived because of her intervention and she was never fired.

Responsible for what you know. That’s a sobering thought. I’ve read my Bible more times that I know. I’ve sat under very knowledgeable preachers and teachers. I’ve been memorizing Scripture since I could talk. I know a lot. Am I living by what I know or have I learned things that I’ve chosen to shove aside because they’re not convenient, comfortable or considered acceptable?

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I'm married (35 years in December 2008) with four grown sons. I love my city (Winnipeg) and my country (Canada) and promote them both to whoever will listen. God (through Jesus Christ) is the biggest part of my life. I am learning to let him take control of all areas--though I do better at this some times more than others.

I have written a book that's recently been published about part of my journey with God. In it I tell how God confronted me with the same-sex attraction issues I've struggled with all my adult life and how he led me through them to a deeper and more meaningful relationship with him. God is amazing—his forgiveness, his love, his movement in our lives when we allow him and so much more. I suspect God will never run out of things to teach me or ways to make me grow and that’s a good thing (though often very painful).

I suppose I can say that what gives me the greatest pleasure in life is telling others about…

If you have read the book, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. You may e-mail me at debbiehaughland@gmail.com or post them in the comments section below.

A Real Testimony I finished your book. A real testimony to what God does for us.Leona March 3, 2009 I Had Tears Coming

I sat down to read it about a week later and ended up finishing it the same night. At first I admit I was a little bored and thought that the whole book was about a battle all in your mind, but as I continued reading this creeping thought came over me of a different...struggle in my own life, that I would never in my right mind have shared with anyone accept maybe God. I've mentioned your book to a few people because it stirs up age-old controversies that I have myself argued and wondered about, namely about whether or not homosexuality can be cured or just managed like alcoholism--you just have to stay away from temptation. I noticed at the end of your book that your struggle story …